Between 2005 and 2010 singers Russell Allen (Symphony X, Adrenaline Mob) and Jørn Lande (Masterplan) worked with producer Magnus Karlsson (Primal Fear, Magnus Karlsson’s Free Fall) on three albums. There was a further album released in 2014 where Allen/Lande worked with Timo Tolkki, but now Magnus has come back. However, instead of working again with Lande, the decision was taken to bring in Anette Olzon (ex-Nightwish, The Dark Element) with Anders Köllerfors providing the drums, and Karlsson all other instruments. The result is a melodic hard rock album which has some interesting moments, but in some ways is also somewhat fragmented as this isn’t a true duet album in many ways. That both singers are superb is never in doubt, and this style of material suits Olzon far more than when she was with Nightwish. Hearing her performing with less of the bombastic sound around her, one can really appreciate her vocal style. Her first single with Nightwish was “Bye Bye Beautiful”, which was much more of a straightforward number than “Ghost Love Score” and there is no doubt where she really shines.

Musically this is fairly straightforward, and it is often the material which lets it down, as opposed to the performances from the singers. I would have liked to have heard more true duets as songs such as “I’ll Never Leave You” is calling out for both singers to be involved, but it appears this is just Annette and there are others where it is just Russell. This means the album really does come across as a project as opposed to a serious band. Given the people involved this will probably sell well, but if there is another then there needs to be a serious discussion about what they are trying to achieve. Solid, but rarely more than that.

Rating: 6/10

Links:
https://www.facebook.com/SirRussellAllen
https://www.facebook.com/anetteolzonofficial
https://www.frontiers.it